The 1996–97 NBA season was the 23rd season for the

Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. Since the 1991–92 season, the ...

in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

, and their 18th season in

Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...

. Prior to the start of the season, the Jazz changed their primary logo that more closely reflects the state of Utah, featuring purple mountains and light blue in the script, plus adding new uniforms. After a 2–2 start to the regular season, the Jazz posted a 15-game winning streak between November and December, and held a 33–14 record at the All-Star break. The team then posted a 31–4 record for the remainder of the season, where they posted another 15-game winning streak between March and April, and won 19 of their final 20 games. The Jazz finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a franchise-best 64–18 record, and earned the #1 seed in the Western Conference; they made their fourteenth consecutive trip to the

NBA playoffs The NBA playoffs is the annual Playoffs, postseason Tournament#Knockout tournaments, tournament of the National Basketball Association (NBA) held to determine the league champion. Since 1949, the four-round, best-of-seven tournament is held afte ...

. The Jazz also had the second-best home record in the league with a 38–3 record at the Delta Center.

Karl Malone Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Mailman", he is considered one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. Malone spen ...

averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year, finishing in first place ahead of

Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player, who is currently a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Ass ...

in Most Valuable Player voting, while being named to the

All-NBA First Team The All-NBA Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor bestowed on the best players in the league following every NBA season. The voting is conducted by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. The team has been sel ...

, and to the

NBA All-Defensive First Team The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. The All-Defensive Team is generally composed of ten players in tw ...

. In addition, Jeff Hornacek averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game, while John Stockton provided the team with 14.4 points, 10.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and to the

NBA All-Defensive Second Team The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. The All-Defensive Team is generally composed of ten players in two ...

. Meanwhile, Bryon Russell showed improvement becoming the team's starting small forward, averaging 10.8 points and 1.4 steals per game, and leading the Jazz with 108 three-point field goals, while second-year center Greg Ostertag averaged 7.3 points and rebounds per game each, and led the team with 2.0 blocks per game, and Antoine Carr contributed 7.4 points per game off the bench. Malone and Stockton were both selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

. Stockton also finished in fifteenth place in

Most Valuable Player In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...

voting, and head coach Jerry Sloan finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting. In the 1997 NBA playoffs, the Jazz swept the

Los Angeles Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. The ...

in three straight games in the Western Conference First Round, then in the Western Conference Semi-finals, they defeated the

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

four games to one. In the Western Conference Finals, they took a 2–0 series lead over the

Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA) ...

, who were led by

Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon ( ; ; born January 21, 1963), nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian and American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played Center (basketball), center in the National Basketball Association (NB ...

Charles Barkley Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player who is a television analyst on NBA on TNT, TNT and CBS Sports. Nicknamed "Sir Charles", "the Bread Truck", and "the Round Mound of Rebound", ...

and Clyde Drexler. However, the Rockets would even the series at two games a piece, as Rockets forward Eddie Johnson hit a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer to win Game 4, 95–92. After the Jazz took Game 5 at home, 96–91, Game 6 would be another battle and appeared to be heading for overtime, until Stockton nailed a three-point buzzer beater that launched the Jazz to the

NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern and Western Conference (NBA), Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven series to determine the league ...

for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Rockets on the road, 103–100. In the 1997 NBA Finals, the Jazz lost in six games to Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the defending champion

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded on January 16 ...

. One notable highlight of the regular season was the Jazz trailing 70–36 at halftime to the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division (NBA), Northwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA), W ...

at home on November 27, 1996, but came back from a 34-point deficit, outscoring the Nuggets 71–33 in the second half to win the game, 107–103. The Jazz's new primary logo and uniforms would both remain in use until 2004.

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

* Small forward Jamie Watson was waived on March 5, 1997.

Regular season

Season standings

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 ,
7:00p.m. MST ,

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

W 99–91
, Malone (27) , Malone (13) , Hornacek,
Stockton (8) , Delta Center
19,911 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , , @ L.A. Clippers
W 95–90
, Malone (21) , Malone (12) , Stockton (7) , Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
13,041 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 ,
7:00p.m. MST ,

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

L 72–75
, Malone (16) , Malone (14) , Hornacek (5) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 ,
6:30p.m. MST , @

L 85–91
, Malone (32) , Malone (11) , Stockton (6) , The Summit
16,285 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , ,

Sacramento Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the seat of Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers in Northern California's Sacramento Valley, Sacramento's 2020 p ...

W 105–74
, Malone (22) , Ostertag (13) , Stockton (10) , Delta Center
19,283 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

W 104–96
, Malone (21) , Ostertag (20) , Stockton (18) , Delta Center
19,046 , 4–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 7 , , @

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

W 88–87
, Stockton (23) , Russell (13) , Stockton (8) ,

Reunion Arena Reunion Arena was an indoor arena located in the Reunion, Dallas, Reunion district of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States. The arena served as the primary home of the National Hockey League's (NHL) Dallas Stars and the National Basketball Ass ...

15,947 , 5–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 8 ,
7:30p.m. MST , @ L.A. Lakers
W 113–97
, Malone (37) , Ostertag (9) , Stockton (13) ,

Great Western Forum The Kia Forum, also known as Los Angeles Forum and formerly Great Western Forum, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States, adjacent to Los Angeles. Located on West Manchester Boulevard, with Laffit Pincay Jr., P ...

16,122 , 6–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 9 , , Golden State
W 109–104 (OT)
, , , , Delta Center
18,889 , 7–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 10 ,
7:00p.m. MST ,

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

W 105–100
, Malone (36) , Malone (15) , Stockton (13) , Delta Center
19,911 , 8–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 11 , ,

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

W 108–92
, , , , Delta Center
19,132 , 9–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 12 , ,

Denver Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...

W 107–103
, , , , Delta Center
19,324 , 10–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 13 , , L.A. Clippers
W 111–94
, , , , Delta Center
19,381 , 11–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 14 ,
6:00p.m. MST , @

W 96–90
, , , , KeyArena
17,072 , 12–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 15 , , Charlotte
W 107–97
, , , , Delta Center
19,410 , 13–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 16 ,
6:00p.m. MST , L.A. Lakers
W 101–75
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 14–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 17 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

W 106–95
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 15–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 18 , , @

W 104–91
, , , ,

McNichols Sports Arena McNichols Sports Arena was an indoor arena located in Denver, Colorado, United States. Located adjacent to Mile High Stadium and completed in 1975, at a cost of $16 million, it seated 16,061 for hockey games and 17,171 for basketball games. Sp ...

12,837 , 16–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 19 , ,

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

W 110–86
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 17–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 20 , , Phoenix
L 87–95
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 17–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 21 , , Orlando
W 101–68
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 18–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 22 ,
5:30p.m. MST , @ New York
L 94–99
, Malone (29) , Malone (14) , Stockton (5) ,

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

19,763 , 18–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 23 ,
5:30p.m. MST , @

Miami Miami is a East Coast of the United States, coastal city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County in South Florida. It is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, which, with a populat ...

W 94–87 (OT)
, Malone (35) , Malone (16) , Stockton (10) , Miami Arena
14,919 , 19–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 24 , , @ Orlando
W 98–93
, , , , Orlando Arena
17,248 , 20–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 25 , , @

Cleveland Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–U.S. maritime border and approximately west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania st ...

L 94–100
, , , , Gund Arena
17,205 , 20–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 26 , , @

L 98–107
, , , , Target Center
14,434 , 20–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 27 , , Portland
W 99–94
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 21–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 28 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

W 110–84
, , , , Delta Center
19,911 , 22–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 29 , , @ L.A. Clippers
L 101–115
, , , , Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , 22–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 30 , , @

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

L 80–83
, , , ,

Alamodome The Alamodome is a 64,000-seat domed indoor multi-purpose stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It is located on the southeastern fringe of downtown San Antonio. The facility opened on May 15, 1993, having been constructed at a cost of $186 milli ...

15,220 , 22–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 31 ,
7:00p.m. MST ,

W 83–80
, Malone (28) , Malone (12) , Stockton (11) , Delta Center
19,911 , 23–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 32 ,
6:30p.m. MST , @

L 89–102
, Malone (27) , Malone (11) , Stockton (11) ,

United Center The United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side, Chicago, Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

23,882 , 23–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 33 , , @

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

L 112–119 (OT)
, , , , Bradley Center , 23–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 34 , , @

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

L 96–110
, , , ,

SkyDome Rogers Centre (originally SkyDome) is a retractable roof stadium in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated at the base of the CN Tower near the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989 on the former Railway Lands, it is home to ...

, 23–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 35 , , @

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

L 77–87
, , , , The Palace of Auburn Hills , 23–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 36 , , @

W 97–96 (OT)
, , , , CoreStates Center , 24–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 37 , , Phoenix
W 95–91
, , , , Delta Center , 25–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 38 , , @

W 106–68
, , , , General Motors Place , 26–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 39 , , @ Portland
L 96–102
, , , , Rose Garden , 26–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 40 , ,

W 94–74
, , , , Delta Center , 27–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 41 , , @ Phoenix
W 111–99
, , , , America West Arena , 28–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 42 ,
6:30p.m. MST , @

W 105–100 (OT)
, Malone (27) , Malone (17) , Stockton (11) , The Summit
16,285 , 29–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 43 , ,

W 114–99
, , , , Delta Center , 30–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 44 ,
7:00p.m. MST ,

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

W 102–96
, , , , Delta Center , 31–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 45 , , @

L 97–100
, , , ,

, 31–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 46 , , Washington
W 111–89
, , , , Delta Center , 32–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 47 ,
6:00p.m. MST , @

W 99–95
, , , , KeyArena , 33–14 , - align="center" , colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff", All-Star Break , - style="background:#cfc;" , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 48 , , @

W 120–98
, , , , ARCO Arena , 34–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 49 , , Portland
W 110–86
, , , , Delta Center , 35–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 50 , ,

W 99–84
, , , , Delta Center , 36–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 51 , ,

W 113–105
, , , , Delta Center , 37–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 52 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

W 122–105
, , , , Delta Center , 38–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 53 ,
1:30p.m. MST ,

L 87–89 (OT)
, , , , Delta Center , 38–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 54 ,
7:00p.m. MST , New York
W 110–99
, Malone (33) , Ostertag (13) , Stockton (12) , Delta Center
19,911 , 39–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 55 , ,

W 118–114
, , , , Delta Center , 40–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 56 , , @ Portland
L 105–115
, , , , Rose Garden , 40–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 57 , , @

W 93–86
, , , , General Motors Place , 41–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 58 , , @ Golden State
W 111–104
, , , , San Jose Arena , 42–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 59 , ,

W 96–65
, , , , Delta Center , 43–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 60 , ,

W 95–88
, , , , Delta Center , 44–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 61 , , @

W 115–106
, , , , Target Center , 45–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 62 ,
5:30p.m. MST , @

L 99–106
, , , , The Omni , 45–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 63 , , @

W 117–102
, , , , Continental Airlines Arena , 46–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 64 , , @

W 105–96
, , , , Market Square Arena , 47–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 65 , , @ Washington
W 100–93
, , , , US Airways Arena , 48–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 66 , , @ Charlotte
W 114–93
, , , , Charlotte Coliseum , 49–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 67 , , @

W 113–100
, , , , Fleet Center , 50–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 68 , , L.A. Clippers
W 107–94
, , , , Delta Center , 51–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 69 , , @

W 120–103
, , , ,

, 52–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 70 , ,

W 101–96
, , , , Delta Center , 53–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 71 , , @

W 115–102
, , , ,

, 54–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 72 , ,

W 118–87
, , , , Delta Center , 55–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 73 , ,

W 106–79
, , , , Delta Center , 56–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 74 , , @ Golden State
W 114–100
, , , , San Jose Arena , 57–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 75 , ,

W 116–93
, , , , Delta Center , 58–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 76 ,
6:00p.m. MDT , L.A. Lakers
W 101–89
, , , , Delta Center , 59–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 77 ,
7:00p.m. MDT ,

W 104–83
, Malone (28) , Malone (13) , Stockton (8) , Delta Center
19,911 , 60–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 78 ,
1:30p.m. MDT , @ L.A. Lakers
L 98–100
, , , ,

, 60–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 41 , , @ Phoenix
W 127–122
, , , , America West Arena , 61–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 80 , , Golden State
W 106–93
, , , , Delta Center , 62–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 81 , ,

W 101–89
, , , , Delta Center , 63–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 82 , , @

W 113–109
, , , , ARCO Arena , 64–18

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , , L.A. Clippers
W 106–86
, Malone (27) , Malone (10) , Stockton (17) , Delta Center
19,911 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 , , L.A. Clippers
W 105–99
, Malone (39) , Malone (11) , Hornacek,
Stockton (4) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , , @ L.A. Clippers
W 104–92
, Malone (26) , Malone (13) , Stockton (13) , Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11,747 , 3–0 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 ,
3:30p.m. MDT , L.A. Lakers
W 93–77
, Malone (23) , Malone (13) , Hornacek (7) , Delta Center
19,911 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 ,
8:30p.m. MDT , L.A. Lakers
W 103–101
, Malone (31) , Malone (11) , Hornacek,
Stockton (7) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 ,
8:30p.m. MDT , @ L.A. Lakers
L 84–104
, Hornacek (26) , Malone (10) , Stockton (8) ,

17,505 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 ,
1:30p.m. MDT , @ L.A. Lakers
W 110–95
, Russell (29) , Russell (10) , Stockton (11) ,

17,505 , 3–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 ,
8:30p.m. MDT , L.A. Lakers
W 98–93 (OT)
, Malone (32) , Malone (20) , Stockton (10) , Delta Center
19,911 , 4–1 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 ,
6:30p.m. MDT ,

W 101–86
, Malone (21) , Malone (13) , Stockton (13) , Delta Center
19,911 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 2 ,
6:30p.m. MDT ,

W 104–92
, Stockton (26) , Malone (15) , Stockton (12) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 ,
6:30p.m. MDT , @

L 100–118
, Malone (21) , Ostertag (9) , Stockton (10) , The Summit
16,285 , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 ,
1:30p.m. MDT , @

L 92–95
, Malone,
Stockton (22) , Malone (10) , Stockton (8) , The Summit
16,285 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 ,
7:00p.m. MDT ,

W 96–91
, Malone (29) , Malone (14) , Stockton (6) , Delta Center
19,911 , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 ,
7:00p.m. MDT , @

W 103–100
, Stockton (25) , Ostertag (14) , Stockton (13) , The Summit
16,285 , 4–2 , - , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 1 ,
5:30p.m. MDT , @

L 82–84
, Malone (23) , Malone (15) , Stockton (12) ,

24,544 , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 ,
7:00p.m. MDT , @

L 85–97
, Malone (20) , Malone (13) , Stockton (7) ,

24,544 , 0–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 ,
7:00p.m. MDT ,

W 104–93
, Malone (37) , Malone (10) , Stockton (12) , Delta Center
19,911 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 ,
5:30p.m. MDT ,

W 78–73
, Malone (23) , Malone (10) , Stockton (12) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 ,
7:00p.m. MDT ,

L 88–90
, Malone (19) , Ostertag (15) , Malone (6) , Delta Center
19,911 , 2–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 6 ,
7:00p.m. MDT , @

L 86–90
, Malone (21) , Ostertag (8) , Stockton (5) ,

24,544 , 2–4 , -

NBA Finals

In the Finals, the Jazz faced the

losing the first two games on the road. However, the Jazz upon arriving at the Delta Center continued their home court advantage by taking Game 3, and Game 4 to even the series. With a chance to take a series lead in Game 5, the Jazz were beaten by a heroic performance by

playing with the flu like ailment 90–88. Back in Chicago for Game 6, the Jazz battled the Bulls tightly before falling by four points as the Bulls won their fifth title in seven years.

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Player Statistics Citation:

Awards and records

Awards

, NBA Most Valuable Player Award *

* John Stockton, All-NBA Third Team *

* John Stockton,

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1996-97 Utah Jazz Season Utah Jazz seasons Western Conference (NBA) championship seasons

Utah Utah is a landlocked state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is one of the Four Corners states, sharing a border with Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It also borders Wyoming to the northea ...